Vin Diesel is best known for playing Dominic Toretto in the massively successful Fast and the Furious franchise, but the buff action star is involved with more than than just one major franchise. At the moment, he has three other projects in mail-production, including a long-awaited sequel to 2002's 30 (xXx: The Return of Xander Muzzle) and the follow up to Marvel's smash hit Guardians of the Galaxy, where Diesel fuel voices the taciturn tree, Groot. He's also on-ready with the Rock for Fast 8, and already signed upwardly for two more Fast and the Furious movies – and all that is just over the next few years.

At that place is little dubiousness that Diesel fuel is at present one of the biggest action stars in the biz (literally and figuratively) and his success but keeps getting bigger. Everyone knows that Diesel is a talented i when it comes to boot donkey and looking absurd, just he's far more than just a tough guy. A man of many talents (and with a fascinating history), we've broken downwardly fifteen of the most fascinating things about the multi-faceted star.

15 His Existent Name is Marker Sinclair

It shouldn't be too surprising that Vin Diesel isn't actually the proper noun the actor was given at nativity – although parents do give their children some odd monikers! Diesel fuel was actually born Marking Sinclair, a far weep from his uber-absurd action hero proper name. "Vin" comes from his adoptive male parent's surname, Vincent, which is a simple enough nickname (trust him to make "Vincent" sound incredibly cool!). The surname "Diesel fuel" from his days as a club bouncer in New York at the tender age of 17. Even as a teen, Diesel was manifestly intimidating enough to work the door at a club called "The Tunnel", where he worked part time while he was at Hunter Higher. He allegedly gained the nickname "diesel" considering he always had so much energy on the chore – he was always "fueled" upwards.

The proper name stuck, and Mark Sinclair Vincent became Vin Diesel – a name that suits his acting so perfectly it's almost as though he planned it!

xiv He Is A Twin

Vin Diesel fuel has ane brother, Paul Vincent, who is besides his twin. The two are congenial twins, non identical twins – and although nosotros tin run across the similarities, they look quite different. For one thing, Diesel's brother Paul has a whole lot of hair! The two were shut growing up in Greenwich Village, and Paul helped Vin on his first short film project, Mutli-Facial. The short remains Paul's only film credit on IMDB, though, and he is a very private person – unlike his brother.

Paul has appeared on Diesel's Facebook page in the by, most notably in the photo seen to a higher place with Diesel's Fast and Furious co-star, the late Paul Walker. The action star commented that although Paul is his twin, his brother looks more similar his co-star and close friend than himself. Diesel has as well spoken nearly his twin from fourth dimension to fourth dimension in interviews, although when he does, it'due south normally just to confirm that he does have a twin brother, and to laugh about the time that a magazine published a photo of a total stranger, claiming that he was Paul.

13 His Begetter Was A Theater Autobus

Vin Diesel isn't the only talented actor in his family! Although Diesel did non know his biological father, he was raised by his mother (Delora Sherleen, an astrologer) and his adoptive father, Irving H Vincent. Irving has his off-white share of acting feel, although he doesn't spend his time in front of the camera like his son. Instead, Irving Vincent was an interim teacher and theater manager in Greenwich Village where Diesel fuel grew upwardly. The family (along with Diesel's twin blood brother, Paul Vincent) lived in an artist'southward housing project in the Village, so perhaps information technology'southward not besides surprising that Diesel became a performer afterwards growing upwardly in such a creative atmosphere.

That said, the interim bug skipped his twin blood brother. Although Paul Vincent helped out on Diesel fuel's early projects, the actor's twin prefers to alive a much more than individual life than his brother, only actualization at big events and in the occasional Facebook post.

12 He Was Introduced To Interim Afterward Breaking Into A Theater

Although his male parent was a theater charabanc, Diesel didn't get involved in acting through his family. Instead, he had a much more… unusual entry into stagecraft. At the tender age of vii, Vin, his blood brother, and some of his friends broke into a theater in Greenwich Village to vandalize it. The artistic managing director of the theater defenseless the boys in the deed, but rather than telephone call the constabulary, she fabricated a bargain with them. She asked them to be in the play that she was putting on, Dinosaur Door, possibly as a way to channel some of their energy and inventiveness into something more positive. Diesel (unsurprisingly) agreed.

Diesel remained active with the Theater For The New Urban center for several years after that, into his teen years, and until he left to attend Hunter College. We're fairly sure that the director, Crystal Field, never dreamed that one of the kids who wanted to vandalize her theater would proceed to such success as an actor!

11 He Wrote, Directed and Produced His First Film – Which Landed Him His Breakout Role

Diesel isn't just a talent in front of the camera – he'southward also a capable writer, director and producer. Later on studying English in college, the star first attempted the more traditional route to Hollywood success, heading to LA and going to auditions. Nonetheless, he struggled to make an impression, and returned home to New York, where he decided to give filmmaking a shot.

His first motion-picture show (Multi-Facial) was a semi-autobiographical brusk about the issues facing a multi-racial histrion. Shot in only a few days and with a upkeep of $3000, Diesel wrote the script, wrote and performed the score, directed, produced and starred in the film. Amazingly, it went on to be a huge success (in independent short-motion-picture show terms), being accepted to Cannes in '95 and screening to standing-room-only crowds. Post-obit the success of Multi-Facial, Diesel was able to develop another project, a script he had written titled Strays – a project which led to his big intermission in Saving Private Ryan. Legendary director Steven Spielberg saw both Multi-Facial and Strays, and was so impressed that he wrote a part into Saving Individual Ryan specifically for Diesel – and a star was born!

ten He Has Three Kids

For such a huge star, Vin Diesel has been able to continue his private life largely private. He has often said that he doesn't want to be the kind of glory who is on mag covers and reality shows, and that he likes to keep his family and professional person life split up. It'due south non surprising, therefore, that many fans don't realize that the star has iii children with his long-time girlfriend, Paloma Jimenez. He and the Mexican model had their starting time kid in 2008, a daughter named Hania Riley. Ii years later, their son Vincent Sinclair was built-in (and carries on both his family names).

Most famously, Diesel fuel and Jimenez had a second daughter in 2015, who they named Pauline, in honor of Diesel's close friend and co-star Paul Walker, who sadly passed away in 2013. He also has a goddaughter, Meadow Pelting Walker, who is Paul Walker'south daughter. Although his family makes appearances at his red carpet events, he keeps them very much out of the public centre for the residuum of the time.

9 He Voiced The Iron Giant

Diesel has get well-known in recent years for his voice work on Guardians of the Galaxy every bit Groot, an enormous tree-creature who says merely five words through the entire flick. ("I am Groot" and later, "We are Groot".) However, his distinctive deep vocalization has too voiced a very unlike motion-picture show graphic symbol – one that many people wouldn't acquaintance with the action star: The Iron Behemothic. The phonation of the animated conflicting robot was 1 of Diesel's first ever roles, and he joined a surprisingly star-studded cast that included Jennifer Aniston (as Annie Hughes) and Harry Connick Jr (every bit Dean McCoppin).

The Iron Giant and Guardians of the Galaxy remain his but two voice credits in picture and Boob tube, although he has likewise done voice work as Riddick for video games and shorts, as well as voicing another video game character, Milo Burik in Wheelman in 2009. While we would dearest to hear his dulcet tones in more than animated features, it seems that he is besides busy blowing stuff up in live-action to spend much more time backside the mic.

8 He Used To Be A Rapper and Breakdancer

Before Diesel became a professional actor, he tried his hand at another creative pursuits, including some cringeworthy rapping and incredibly '80s breakdancing. Although very little has survived from these early on days (when he was still using the proper name Mark Sinclair), the cyberspace has provided us with a video of his dancing, and a sample of some rapping he did with musician Arthur Russel in 1986. His moves are much better than his rhymes, which include such stunning lyrics as "Ha ha! Ho ho! Party people! It's time to get stupid!", "I'chiliad the man of steel", and he later boasts about his silky-smooth skin.

His "breakdancing" isn't a whole lot better, although we're pretty sure that those moves were a lot more impressive xxx years ago. The all-time office of the video, though, is seeing Diesel with a whole lot of hair (and wearing a hilarious shellsuit). We're pretty thrilled that Diesel fuel went on to explore writing, directing and acting rather than attempting to star in theFootstep Upwardly franchise.

7 He'southward A D&D Nerd

For the uninitiated, D&D stands for Dungeons and Dragons, a fantasy tabletop role-playing game that has been providing magical escapism since the '70s. Players create a character with varying looks and personality traits, and are led through adventures by a Dungeon Principal who acts as storyteller. It's a game synonymous with the nerdiest of nerds, and not one that y'all might expect an activeness star to savour.

Vin Diesel, however, is a long-time fan of the game, and makes no basic near information technology. He routinely invites others to play, and even taught Dame Judi Dench on the set up of The Chronicles of Riddick. He's played the game for an episode of Geek and Sundry and Nerdist (who imaginatively re-named it D&Diesel), and he based his graphic symbol in The Last Witch Hunter on his favorite D&D graphic symbol, Melkor.

He'southward such a famous fan of the game that he was even invited to write the foreword to a book celebrating the game: thirty Years of Adventure: A Celebration of Dungeons & Dragons. Don't exist surprised if he makes an appearance in the upcoming film accommodation.

6 He Was Paid For Tokyo Drift With Movie Rights

A star of Diesel's caliber tin control top dollar for his film appearances, but he chose to sell his cameo in Tokyo Drift for something other than money. Diesel fuel simply appears in the film for a cursory moment at the very end to challenge Lucas Black's character to a race. Diesel'south graphic symbol is merely tangentially connected to this entry in the franchise, but his advent was a huge deal to fans, and he could have been an expensive cameo for the film. However, Diesel had been told that his passion projection, the Riddick movies, were finished. They simply didn't bring in enough coin for Universal to go on the franchise after The Chronicles of Riddick, so Diesel fuel asked the studio to give him the rights instead of a more traditional payment.

Every bit one of the highest-paid actors in the world, Diesel fuel clearly didn't miss out on anything past skipping that payday, and at present ane of his favorite roles belongs solely to him.

5 He Self-Funded Riddick

After gaining the rights to the Riddick characters and concepts, Diesel fuel was adamant to make a third movie in the series. He had loved working on Pitch Black and The Chronicles of Riddick, and although the studio was washed with the serial, the actor knew that he could bring it dorsum to life. He and director/screenwriter David Twohy pulled together a concept, a script, and began shooting Riddick with the (insufficiently) small budget of $38 1000000. Not simply was this third movie a much lower-budget and independent moving-picture show, but the budget came largely from Diesel fuel'south personal fortune – and it most wiped him out! Diesel took out loans, used his savings, and even leveraged his firm against the success of the moving picture.

With so much riding on information technology, there is no doubtfulness nigh how strongly Diesel feels for the character, and luckily, his chance paid off. Universal, the studio that didn't desire to make any more Riddick movies, concluded upward distributing the film which made just nether $100 million worldwide. A fourth entry in currently in the works.

iv He Has One Of The Biggest Facebook Followings In The Earth

It'southward not difficult for celebrities to become an enormous following on social media, but Vin Diesel has managed to out-do almost everyone else to take one of the most-liked Facebook pages in the entire world. The actor has nearly 100,000,000 followers on the social media site (99,799,816 to be precise), which makes his page the half-dozenthursday nearly liked page ever. The top 3 slots are filled with Facebook's own pages (Facebook For Every Phone, Facebook, and Facebook Sales), meaning that there are only two celebrity pages who have more likes than Diesel: Cristiano Ronaldo (with just over 115,000,000) and Shakira (with just over 104,000,000). That's a lot of likes!

Diesel even used his social media pull to country himself the role of Groot in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The actor posted that he was in meetings with Marvel in order to get a rising out of fans (he didn't have any such meeting at the time of his original postal service), and the reaction was and then overwhelming that Marvel noticed and actually set up a sit-down.

3 He Doesn't Have Whatsoever Tattoos

Tattoos are increasingly prevalent, specially with celebrities, just Vin Diesel fuel'southward pare remains a blank slate. This is particularly surprising given that near of the characters that he plays are heavily tattooed. If the player wanted to add together a piddling ink, it wouldn't be a hindrance to his work, by whatever means. He would actually be in practiced company – many huge stars are heavily tattooed, and while some cover up their artwork while filming, others tin oftentimes incorporate their own tattoos into roles on screen.

Even though he doesn't actually have any of his own, Diesel doesn't announced to dislike tattoos. The actor even has a little fun with his character's body ink. As Xander Muzzle in xXx, Diesel requested a tattoo of his D&D grapheme's name across his character's stomach! Perhaps he has so much fun wearing these tattoos on a temporary basis that he doesn't feel the need to brand the fine art permanent.

2 He's Clustered An Empire

Diesel isn't merely a talented actor – he's got a lot of projects on the go, and is involved with multiple dissimilar sides of the entertainment industry. He has a moving picture production visitor, One Race Films, which has produced films as diverse as xxx and The Pacifier, every bit well as being involved on a smaller level with the Fast and the Furious and Riddick franchises. One Race Films also owns a smaller video game development visitor, Tigon Studios. Tigon is all-time known for creating games that exist within the world of the Riddick franchise, but as well created the game Wheelman, and has several more than titles in development.

As though that wasn't enough, the star also owns a record label, Racetrack Records. Although this isn't on the same level as some other stars who also have wearable and perfume lines, it shows just how passionate Diesel fuel is most filmmaking and entertainment. These are passion projects, rather than money-spinners, and that makes them fifty-fifty more interesting.

1 He Was About Daredevil

Before Charlie Cox became the confront of the Man Without Fear on the pocket-size screen, and before Ben Affleck became the Dark Knight, the latter donned the red adjust and horns for the big screen version of Daredevil in 2003. The film was a disaster, and often tops the list of the worst superhero films of the past 20 years . It was a move that Affleck regrets making, and one that he virtually didn't accept to make.

Originally, Diesel was considered for the office of the blind superhero, but thankfully he turned the part down. Instead, Diesel wanted to focus on Xander Cage and xXx, with his film coming out approximately half dozen months before the superhero flop. We're sure that it's not a decision that the action star regrets, either. Although xXx had to await until this year to get a sequel, it's a film that Diesel is passionate about, while Daredevil is by and large accepted to have been a mistake by all involved. Diesel did finally enter the world of comic book movies with his work every bit Groot in Guardians of the Galaxy, and so he didn't exactly miss the boat in that location.

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Which upcoming Vin Diesel picture show are yous most excited to see? Do you know any other fun Diesel-fueled factoids that fans should know about? Let us know in the comments.

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About The Writer

Rose Graceling-Moore (1516 Articles Published)

Rose Graceling-Moore has been writing most film, Goggle box and comics since 2013, when she began writing for a local print magazine in Vancouver, BC. Since then, Rose has written for Horror Honeys, Moviepilot and Quirkbooks besides as Screenrant, increasingly focusing on comic books and alive-activeness comic adaptations, as well as multifariousness and representation on screen. Rose also co-hosted the DC Movies Podcast, and has guested on other nerd and entertainment podcasts over the by five years. Rose'due south love of comics began all the way back in the early '90s, when she discovered the Ten-Men while living in Africa (where in that location wasn't a whole lot to do just read!), and since then has had an on-again, off-again love affair with non just Curiosity, merely DC and indie comics every bit well. Y'all can follow her on Twitter: RoseMooreWrites for tweets virtually comics, movies, and more.

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